Senior IP Counsel – Materials Group

Avery Dennison•Mentor, OH

4d•$180,000 - $270,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Avery Dennison is seeking a Senior IP Counsel to support its Materials Group business. The role provides hands-on legal leadership for core material science platforms, pressure-sensitive adhesives, functional coatings, and digital identification technologies. The counsel will work closely with technology and innovation leadership, as well as regional R&D, Marketing, and Procurement directors, and report to the Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Global M&A and Intellectual Property. The position leads global intellectual property strategy and portfolio management, including patent procurement, invention assessment, enforcement, freedom-to-operate analysis, litigation, and dispute resolution. It also advises business and executive leaders on IP risks, portfolio choices, and commercial readiness; handles complex IP and technology transactions and M&A due diligence; and partners with cross-functional teams to integrate IP guidance into product development. The role also provides IP training and coordinates internal and external global IP resources. The position is based in Mentor, Ohio, with hybrid work preferred. Remote work will be considered for qualified non-local candidates. The posted salary range is $180,000–$270,000 per year. Candidates must have a technical degree in a specified field, a J.D., USPTO registration, and admission to a U.S. state bar in good standing, along with at least 15 years of dedicated patent and legal experience, including at least three years in an in-house corporate law department supporting relevant industrial or advanced-manufacturing businesses.

Requirements

A B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Physical Chemistry, or Mechanical Engineering.
A J.D., registration with the USPTO, and admission to the bar in at least one U.S. state in good standing.
At least 15 years of dedicated patent and legal experience, including at least three years in an in-house corporate law department supporting industrial materials, chemicals, roll-to-roll processing, or advanced manufacturing.
Experience in business counseling and strategy, transactions, patent drafting and prosecution, freedom-to-operate opinions, and litigation.
Demonstrated international patent practice experience, including PCT, EPO, and CNIPA matters, and post-grant opposition proceedings, especially EPO oppositions.
Robust transactional experience, including complex joint development agreements, licenses, partnering agreements, and strategic sourcing agreements.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including experience collaborating with global teams and communicating across regional and cultural boundaries.
Superior understanding of and ability to take and manage risk.
Strong business acumen and ability to connect legal strategies to business goals and guide clients toward successful outcomes.
Excellent grasp of finance and budgeting concepts.
Demonstrated ability to lead.

Nice To Haves

Deep technical familiarity with pressure-sensitive adhesives, self-adhesive label stock, functional or graphic wrapping films, polymers, or surface and coating technology.
Litigation and patent opposition or invalidation experience.
Experience with RFID, digital identification, smart labels, sensor integration, AI, or other emerging technologies.
Trademark portfolio management experience.

Responsibilities

Drive and execute a global IP strategy aligned with business growth, high-margin product platforms, and expansion in key international markets.
Advise business leaders on portfolio optimization, patents versus trade secrets, trademarks, and open-source models to maximize return on investment and market protection.
Manage, allocate, and optimize global IP budgets and external legal spend.
Oversee global patent procurement, including drafting, PCT and foreign filings, and prosecution.
Guide, challenge, and triage R&D inventions to support high-value filing decisions aligned with technology roadmaps.
Execute offensive and defensive IP strategies, including competitive surveillance, EPO oppositions, and third-party observations.
Conduct patentability, validity, and freedom-to-operate analyses to clear product launches and reduce infringement risks.
Advise executive leadership and stakeholders on legal risks related to patenting, commercial readiness, and contractual exposure.
Manage IP litigation, adversarial proceedings, and dispute resolution with outside counsel and internal business partners.
Structure, draft, and negotiate IP and technology transactions, including joint development agreements, inbound and outbound licenses, vendor contracts, and research collaborations.
Lead IP due diligence and risk assessment for M&A, joint ventures, and venture investments.
Partner with R&D, Commercial, Procurement, and Business Development teams, integrating IP guidance into product development.
Design and deliver IP training on best practices, invention disclosures, and trade secret protection.
Mentor and coordinate global internal IP resources, external agents, and foreign counsel.